Page 52 of Just Friends Forever
I smile, feeling grateful for her indignation, despite how new our friendship is.
“It’s kind of hard to go on casual dates when the media is itching for a story,” I say. “I don’t think many guys are looking for a first date with ten cameras in their faces—and if they are, they’re probably more interested in the exposure than in me.”
Maggie blows a puff of air through her lips. “That makes things really tricky.”
I nod and go back to my food. These are the realities of my life now, and there’s no use dwelling on what can’t be changed.
“My cousin Landon is single,” Maggie says. “He could handle that kind of pressure.”
“Really?”
She nods. “He’s super easygoing.Andhe’ll make sure you have fun. He’s good at that.”
I bite the inside of my lip, trying to imagine what it would even be like to go on a date with someone. It’s been a long time since I dated, and unlike Curtis, who has clearly dived right back in, I’m very out of practice.
“No pressure at all,” Maggie says, “but it’s an option if you need to ease yourself back into things. With Landon, it would be more like hanging out.”
Hanging out. I could do that, right? I can’t rely on Troy for everything indefinitely. He shouldn’t feel like he has to babysit me and make sure I’m not alone for too long. He has a job and a girlfriend, for heaven’s sake.
“Okay, yeah,” I say, feeling jittery.
Maggie’s brows go up. “Really? You want to go out with him?”
“I mean, he’s normal, right?”
She laughs. “Yes. Totally normal. Here, I’ll show you a picture.” She pulls out her phone, but I put up a hand to stop her.
“It’s okay. I don’t need to see.” I know too many people who look normal but are complete jerks for his appearance to tell me anything meaningful. The fact that Maggie is vouching for him is what matters to me. “Do you want to give him my number?”
“Definitely.” She looks at me intently. “You sure?”
I nod decisively. “I’m sure.” Uncertainty strikes again, and I hedge. “Just … if I don’t text him back, make sure he knows it’s not about him, okay?”
She smiles. “Definitely.”
18
TROY
“It’s beena pleasure meeting with you, Evelyn,” I say, sticking my hand out for a handshake.
“Thank you,” she says, wiping her hands on her apron. She’s on lunch break at the restaurant where she waitresses. We’ve had to work quickly, which I don’t mind because even though I really like Evelyn, my mind keeps flitting to Stevie back at home, wondering how her new friend-date with Maggie has gone.
“Do you think we’ll be able to find what I’m looking for?” Evelyn asks.
“I do,” I say firmly. “It might take a little patience and some compromise on a few of your wish-list items, but if we can get you pre-qualified for the loan, we can jump on the right place when it pops up.”
The wrinkles at the sides of her eyes deepen with relief.
“I’ve got your email address here”— I hold up the legal pad where I’ve taken notes on all the things she’s looking for in a property—“so I’ll set up that hotsheet today. You’ll start getting emails with potential options as they come on the market.”
Right at the top of the legal pad, circled in blue pen, is Evelyn’s price range. It’s low, even for an apartment. And by low, I mean it’s about a tenth of the price range I’d like my clients to be looking in.
But beggars can’t be choosers, and my client roster is not only starting to dwindle from neglect, there’s a glaring lack of high-end clients on it, so I’ll take what I can get. Evelyn’s son gifted her a nice little sum of money recently, and she’s using it for a down payment on the first property she’ll have ever owned.
Under all her excitement and hopes for this apartment, she’s reasonable, and if I had to make a list of qualities I’d choose in a client,reasonablewould take the top spot. Well, wealthy might take the top spot, butreasonablewould have spots two through five.
I head back to the house and notice immediately that Maggie’s car is still there. That’s got to be a good thing, right?
